How To Publish A Children’s Book Successfully In the UK

If you have written something that is going to bring a smile to those little faces, great job! But now, you need to ensure that it reaches them.

And the success chances are extremely high when the children’s book market in the UK is growing rapidly. Talking about 2023, the market size in the UK was £867.5m!

But for that, you need to identify the right publishing method. From self-publishing to traditional publishing, there are multiple routes. This blog will help you in planning the roadmap from manuscript to markets.

The Most Popular Publishing Methods

In the UK, there are mainly three methods for publishing a children’s book. Let’s take a look at them below.

Traditional Publishing	Submit your manuscript to a literary agent, and they will pitch it to a publishing house.
Self publishing	You work with professional KDP publishers in UK to successfully self-publish your book.
Independent Publishing	You can directly reach out to a publishing house, eliminating the need for an agent.

How To Choose The Best Publishing Method?

Since you are aware of the three pathways that can help your book reach those little hands, time to make a choice!

The table below will compare the two main methods to help you plan the direction for your book.

Factors	Self-publishing	Traditional Publishing
Definition	The author will manage the publishing process	A publisher looks after the process
Control	Complete control for designing and editing	The publisher will make changes accordingly
Royalties	High royalties ranging from 60 to 100%	Only 5- 15% of royalties are received
Time	Quick publishing times	The author has to wait until the manuscript gets accepted
Marketing	The author has to hire someone for marketing	The publisher looks after the marketing process
Editing And Designing	Authors responsibility	The publisher designs and edits by their choice
Rights	Full ownership	Publisher retains the rights and major control

To be honest, traditional publishing techniques are outdated at this point. Authors are rapidly turning towards self-publishing methods due to their lucrative nature and full ownership offered to the author.

So if you are planning to self-publish your book, great move! To avoid the hassle of hiring a marketing and editing team, you can choose to self-publish with the help of a children’s book publishing services.

Here is what you can get from them,

• Book cover design
• Marketing
• Editing
• Formatting
• Distribution of your book worldwide
• Illustrations

A Guide To Publishing A Children’s Book In The UK

In the UK, the children’s book publishing industry is booming. According to research, the children’s book market is expected to reach £868.1 million in 2025.

The strong stats for sales emphasise the potential opportunities present for authors. However, they also highlight the need for a fascinating story and a premium quality book that wins the little hearts.

Let’s take a look at the steps required to publish a children’s book in the UK.

1. Identify Your Target Audience

It is necessary to perform an extensive research process for your target audience. Getting a better understanding of what children prefer will help you target them more effectively.

The plot, characters, theme, and language, everything present in your book, should resonate with a specific age group. The table below will summarise the different age groups and their preferences.

Board books	0-3y/o
Picture books	4-8y/o
Early readers	5-8y/o
Chapter books	6-10 y/o
Middle grade fiction	8-12 y/o
Young adult	12+ y/o

Knowing the age group preferences won’t only help with the writing part but a successful publication. Presenting this knowledge can help you work on the book marketing techniques.

Moreover, if you plan on going for the traditional route, this knowledge can give rise to insightful conversations with literary agents. Don’t forget to conduct research regarding the following points,

• Who is the popular author among your target audience?
• What are the themes and common story ideas in the genre you are writing for?

2. Work On Your Manuscript

After you are done writing a manuscript based on detailed research, you need to work on improving it. Start by editing your manuscript first, and then reach out to a professional editor to refine your manuscript.

In this way, you can identify the minor errors present in the manuscript and fix them immediately. But the question arises, why do you have to look after the editing process?

Wasn’t this supposed to be done by the publishing house? The answer is yes, they will do it. But here is the strategy. You can identify simple mistakes such as grammatical errors, spelling issues.

And when your manuscript gets handed over to a professional editor or a publishing agency, they can create a more refined version by,

• Reviewing character development
• Basic proofreading
• Improving the story flow
• Choosing an appropriate tone for your story
• Aligning text and illustrations together
• Adjusting age-appropriate content

3. Connect With A Literary Agent

If you are choosing to publish your book using the traditional method, you need to find a literary agent. A literary agent is someone who will help you navigate the publishing process.

They help authors by pitching their manuscripts to reliable publishing houses and assist them in securing a book deal. While looking for a literary agent, don’t forget to contact someone who deals in your genre- children’s books.

Here is what you need to do,

• Find a literary agent specific to children’s books
• Write a query letter that explains the unique attributes of your book
• Discuss how it has the potential to stand out among other books
• Submit your book
• If the literary agent accepts your book, they will negotiate a deal for you with the publisher.

Note: If you are planning to go for independent publishing, you don’t need a literary agent. You can directly pitch a publisher who accepts unsolicited manuscripts.  

4. Self-Publishing Route

If you have planned to go for self-publishing, you need to do it all yourself. From marketing to distribution, every responsibility is yours. And since you get to keep all the profits for your book, the hard work is surely worth it!

However, if you want expert assistance by your side, you can choose to work with a self-publishing company. These are the key factors you need to consider before making a choice

• Positive reviews
• Tailored services
• Author-friendly contracts
• Proven results
• Responsive team

Wrapping Up

And that’s it! You are all set to publish a children’s book in the UK. If you want creative freedom, high royalties, and faster publishing, you can choose to self-publish your book.

However, if you prefer traditional publishing, the professional support can bring you more recognition in the children’s book industry. Remember, it is not only about choosing a suitable publishing process, but also about having a manuscript that features exciting plots, simple language, and captivating illustrations for children.